Santa Fe High revives Pledge of Allegiance

SANTA FE (AP)  Some Santa Fe High School students are upset over a decision to reinstate the Pledge of Allegiance at the school after several years.

Students say they are being required to say the pledge. However, Principal Jake Henderson and school district officials said Tuesday students can choose not to say it.

Santa Fe High returned to the practice when second semester began last month after Superintendent Gloria Rendon reminded all principals that state law requires public schools to recite the pledge daily.

"I was very clear in reminding them that students can opt out," she said.

Sophomore Laura Packard, who said she refused to recite the pledge, said some of her friends were sent from class for refusing.

Student Matt Salazar said he doesn't think the pledge should be forced on anyone.

"I don't like the administration saying you have to do this," he said. "Then you have people saying, 'So you're not a patriot.' I don't appreciate being in that position."

Henderson said that wasn't the district's intention.

"We're not going to make anybody stand up and just recite words if they don't have any feeling attached to those words," he said.

Henderson and Rendon said students who choose not to recite the pledge do not need a note from their parents and would not be reprimanded. Henderson said, however, "they have to be respectful for those who do" recite the pledge.

Individual teachers can choose not to recite the pledge, but must allow students to do so, Rendon said.

"A teacher cannot say, 'In my class, we will not do the pledge,' because that is infringing on other people's rights as well," she said.